Automatic drying agent rinse injector for dishwashing machines



Aug. 9, 1960 G. J. FEDERIGHI ET AL AUTOMATIC DRYING AGENT RINSE INJECTORFOR DISHWASHING MACHINES Filed July 21, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 AT'rofl-:NEVE

Aug. 9, 1960 G. J. FEDERIGHI ETAT. 2,948,436

AUTOMATIC DRYING AGENT RTNsE INJECTOR FOR DISHWASHING MACHINES FiledJuly 21, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS GEORGE: J. FEDERIGHI Tone H.N'OREN EY Mvi' ,AT-VORNE AUTOMATIC DRYING AGENT RIVNSYE INJECTOR v FORDISHWASHING MACHINES George J. Federighi and Tore H. Noren, both of 33311th St., San Francisco, Calif.

Filed July 2'1, 1958, Ser. No. 749,727 6 Claims. (Cl. Z22-54) Thepresent invention relates to improvements in an automatic drying agentrinse injector for dishwashing machines. It consists of thecombinations, constructions and arrangement of parts as hereinafterdescribed and claimed. It has particular reference to improvements overthe copending application of George J. Federighi (one of the applicantsherein), entitled,` Drying Agent Dispenser for Use With a DishwashingMachine, Serial No, 625,843, filed in the United States Patent Oice onDecember 3, 1956 (now Patent No. 2,895,646, dated July 2l, 1959).

As, pointed out in the above-identied copending application, rinse wateris .discharged over dishes, glasses and silverware, after the washingcycle of the dishwashing machine, to rinse and sterilize them. However,this rinse Water has a tendency to cling to the Washed articles, whichwill leave spots or streaks when they dry. Accordingly, resort has beenmade to injecting a non-sudsing drying agent liquid into the rinse waterso as to break up the surface tension of the latter, thus causing therinse'water to drain from the washed articles. However, it has beenfound from actual practice that the dispenser shown in the copendingcase had a tendency to discharge the drying agent during cycles otherthan the final rinse cycle. This was caused by a syphoning action thatwas created, causing the drying agent liquid to continue to flow duringsubsequent cycles, such as the Washing cycle. This resulted in a wasteof the drying agent liquid.

As the cardinal object of the present invention, we propose to providean automatic drying agent rinse injector which may be regulated in sucha manner that the drying agent liquid will be conserved and dischargedonly during the nal rinse cycle. More specically, we provide a bottlefor holding the non-sudsing drying agentfliquid, and an adjustablebimetallic strip is arranged in the bottle so as to control thedischarge of the liquid. The bottle is mounted in a position to beimpinged by hotk rinse water sprays, and

thebimetallic strip will permit discharge of the liquidl primarilyduring the final rinse cycle of theadishwashing machine. f

Other objects and advantages will appear as the specication continues.The novel features will be set fort in the appended claims.

Drawings For a better understanding of our invention, reference shouldbe had to Ilthe accompanying drawings, forming part of thisspecification, in which:

Figure l is a side elevational View of .our automatic drying agent rinseinjector for dishwashing machines;

Figure 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional View taken along the planeII-II of Figure l, the-.bimetallic strip being arranged to allow onlyair to be discharged from the bottle; Y

. Figure 3 is a view sim'lar toV Figure 2,-butillustrating g of air fromthe upper part of the bottle A, as suggested.

the bimetallic strip flexed into a position to causethe nontates PatcntOo sudsing drying agent liquid to be sprayed from the bottle;

ICC Y Figure 4 is an enlarged vertical sectional view, similar to Figure2, but disclosing a modified form, the bimetallic strip being disposedin a position to prevent discharge of drying agent liquid from thebottle; and c Figure 5 is an elevational view of the modified form,portions being shown in section, and the bimetallic strip being arrangedto permit discharge ofthe drying agent liquid from the bottle. f

While we have shown only the preferred forms of our` invention, itshould be understood that various changes,

or modifications, may be made within the scope of the" annexed claimswithout departing from the spirit thereof, Detailed description Incarrying our invention into practice, We provide a bottle indicatedgenerally at A which contains-a nonsudsing agent liquid B. This liquidmay be a commercial product known as Rinse-Dry, which is composed of anon-ionic alkyl 'aryl sulfonate wetting agent and alcoholic solvent forblending. This bottle is adapted to be mounted in a combined washing andrinsing compartment of a dishwashing machine (not shown). The usual rackC is disposed in this compartment forholding dishes, glasses andsilverware kfor washing andrinsing operations.

The circulatory systemsrfor the wash and rinse waters have not beenshown, since they are well known inthe art. Generally speaking,detergent-carrying washl water of suitable temperature is directed overthe dishes and the like for a predetermined length of time. After thewashing cycle has been completed, this water is automaticallydischarged. .from the machine. Subsequently, a` fresh supply of hotrinse water, for example, of a tempera-ture of lO0-'l40 F, is admittedto the machine, and ,this

water is .sprayed over the dishes and the likeduringthe pre-rinse orfirst rinse cycle. Thereafter, thiswater is discharged, and Aanothersupply of hot rinse water, for

example, -l80 F. is delivered to .the machine fora nal rinse cycle. Ofcourse, we do not wish to be limited to any particular type ofdishwashing machine or tem-v perature of water.

As suggested in Figure l., the bottle A-is mounted in \a dishwashingmachinein a position to be impinged by sprays of water D, which includessprays of the nal lrinse water. A cap VE is removablysecured to the neck10 of the bottle A, and this ,cap is fashioned V.with an lannular groove11 in its periphery, and a spring lbail 12 itsinto the groove and isprovided with'a hook 13. The latter' is adapted to engage with the rackC for thus supporting the bottle A. Any other suitable means may beprovided for supporting the bottle in .the wash-,rinse compartment ofthe dishwashing machine. "F or the purpose of removably securing the capE .to the neck 10Yof the bottle, we have .provided threads 14 on thebottle neck which engage with corresponding grooves 15 formed'in thecap. Ai gasket 16 has been interposed between the top of the neck 10 andthe interior of the cap E toaform a Vliquid-tightl seal therebetween.

It will be noted that a fitting F isA carried by the cap E, the formerhaving a threaded shank 17 extending Adownwardly through the top of thelatter. This tting is fashioned with a passageway 18 extendingtherethrough. With particular reference to Figure 2, it will be seenVthatV a tube G`-has anv upper ,threaded end 19 which Vis screwed intothe bottom of theittingV F, so that its bore l 20 will communicate yat.its kupper end with the' passage.

way 18 of this litting. The tube G extends downwardly into the bottle `Aand the liquid B-ytherein. '1 This tubehas a normally opened P Ort 21 inits wall, which is locatedA neary the 'top' of-the tube in aposition-toY 'allow discharge Patented Aug. 9,

Y 3 by the arrow a, when the air is initially expanded by hot watersprays D striking the bottle.

In Figures 2 and 3, we show a bimetallic strip H, mounted in the bottleA, this strip being exible toward and away from the tube VG in responseto changes inV temperature. For the purpose of supporting the bimetallicstrip H, the latter has its lower end anchored to a block 22 that isfixed to the tube G. A rubber valve 23 is carriedby the free end of thestrip H in a position to close the port 21 when the strip H is exedtoward the tube G, and to uncover the port 21, when the strip is exedaway from the tube.

The bimetallic strip H is made of such construction that its upper freeend will flex toward the tube G as the temperature of the liquid B andthe air in the bottle is raised. When this temperature reaches apredetermined point, the Valve 23 will close the port 21, as suggestedin Figure 3. The particular temperature at which this valve will closethe port may be regulated by an adjusting screw 24 mounted in the stripH between the block 22 and the Valve 23 to bear against the tube G.

` It will be apparent that when the valve 23 closes the port 21, Iandthe liquid B and the air in the bottle are further expanded by hot rinsesprays D striking the bottle, the liquid B will be forced through thelower open end 25 of the tube G and will flow upwardly through the bore20 and into the passageway 18 of the fitting F.

A plug I is threaded into the top of the fitting F and has an outletorifice 26 communicating with the passageway 18 of the tting F fordischarge of the drying agent liquid, as suggested by the sprays 27 inFigure 3, when the hot rinse water D striking the bottle A has createdsucient expansion of the air and the liquid B in the bottle to force theliquid upwardly through the bore 20 ofthe tube G.

It will be observed that the plug I is provided with a gasket ring 28 atits lower end (see Figure 2). Moreover, a ball valve 29 is mounted inthe passageway 18 of the fitting F in a position to seal against thegasket ring 28, when this ball valve is raised by the liquid B beingforced upwardly through the tube, closing off further discharge of theliquid.

The upper end of the tube has an inclined surface 30 to prevent the ballvalve 29 from fully seating thereagainst, when the ball valve drops.This will allow air to enter through the orifice 26 of the plug I, thepassageway 18 of the fitting F, and the bore 20 of the tube G torecharge the bottle A with air.

The movement of the bimetallic strip H may be controlled by theadjusting screw 24 so that the drying agent liquid B will be dischargedonly during the iinal rinse cycle of therdishwashing machine, it beingnoted that the temperature of the final rinse water is the of all waterused in the machine.

Referring now to the modified form shown in Figures 4 and 5, it will benoted that the modification pertains only to the tube G and thebimetallic strip H. Like reference characters have been applied tocorresponding parts of the two forms of the invention. As clearly shownin Figure 4, the tube G' has a port 21 located near the lower end of thetube to allow flow of the drying agent liquid B from the bottle A to thebore 20 of the tube, when the port 21 is uncovered by the rubber Valve23 on the strip H. The bottom of the tube is sealed, as at 31, wherebythe liquid B will flow into the bore 20' only when the port 21' isuncovered.

It will be apparent that the bimetallic strip H in Figure 4 is invertedas compared with the bimetallic strip H in Figure 2, the block 22' andadjusting screw 24 being arranged near the top of the tube G. Theconstruction of the strip H is such that the valve 23 will be moved awayfrom the tube G so as to uncover the port 21 (see Figure 5), when thefinal rinse water sprays D strike the bottle A during the iinal rinsecycle of the dishwashing machine.

In both embodiments of our invention, the bottle A is preferably made oftransparent plastic so that the amount of the liquid B remaining thereincan be seen. After one bottle has been emptied, a new one containing asupply of the liquid B may be readily substituted.

We claim:

1. In an automatic drying agent rinse injector for dishwashing machines;an injector bottle adapted to contain a non-sudsing drying agent liquid;the injector bottle being adapted to be mounted in a dishwashing machinein an upright position to be impinged by hot rinse water sprays; a capremovably secured to a neck of the bottle; a fitting carried by the capand being fashioned with a passageway extending therethrough; a tubehaving a bore communicating at its upper end with the passageway of thetting; the tube extending downwardly into the bottle and the liquidtherein; the tube being provided with a port in a side Wall thereof; abimetallic strip mounted in the bottle to extend length-wise of thetube, and being adapted to be flexed toward and away from the tube inresponse to changes in temperature due to the impingement of the hotrinse water sprays on the injector bottle; a valve carried by the stripin a position to close the port when the strip is liexed toward the sideof the tube, and to uncover the poit when the strip is exed raway fromthe tube; and a plug carried by the fitting and having an outlet orificecommunicating with the passageway of the fitting for discharge of thedrying agent liquid, when the hot rinse water striking the bottle hascreated suflicient expansion of air and liquid in the bottle to forcethe liquid upwardly through the tube.

2. An automatic drying agent rinse injector for dishwashing machines, asset forth inA claim l; and in which the plug is provided with a gasketring at its lower end; and a ball valve is mounted in the passageway ofthe tting in a position to seal against the gasket ring, when the ballvalve is raised by the liquid being forced upwardly through the tube,closing olf further discharge of the liquid. Y

3. An automatic drying agent rinse injector for dishwashing machines, asset forth in claim 2; and in which the upper end of the tube has aninclined surface to prevent the ball valve from fully seatingthereagainst, when the ball valve drops, thus allowing air to enterthrough the orifice of the plug, the passageway of the fitting, and thebore of the tube to recharge the bottle with air. v 4. An automaticdrying agent rinse injector for dishwashing machines, as set forth inclaim l; and in which a block is secured to the tube; one end of thebimetallic strip being anchored to this block; the valve carried by thestrip being disposed adjacent to the opposite end of the strip; and anadjustment screw mounted in the strip between the block and the valveonthe strip to bear against the tube; said screw being adjustable to exthe bimetallic strip away from the tube.

5. An automatic drying agent rinse injector for dish- Y washingmachines, as set forth in claim l; and in which the port in the tube isnormally opened and is located near the top of the tube in a position toallow discharge of air from the upper part of the bottle, when the airis initially expanded by the hot water striking the bottle; the lowerend of the tube being open so as to receive the liquid, when the valveon the strip closes the port in the tube, and the air and liquid in thebottle are further expanded by the hot rinse water striking the bottle.

V6. An automatic drying agent rinse injector for dish- :washingmachines, as set forth in claim 1; and in which the port in the tube isnormally closed by the valve on the strip; the port being located nearthe lower end of the tube to allow flow of liquid from the bottle to thebore of the tube, when the port is uncovered by the valve on the strip;the bottom of the tube being sealed, whereby References Cited in the fueof this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Hurlbrink Feb. 25, 1919 Millis Oct.15, '1935 6 Halsey et a1. Peb. 11, 1941 Lynn et al June 3, 1941 ScottNov. 18, 1947 Etford July 10, 1951 -Fahnoe Dec. 28, 1954 Martiniak etal. Jan. 6, 1954

